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 Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors
 This presentation explains the following grammatical concepts:
 Clauses (dependent and independent)
 Sentences
 Fragments
 Run-Ons
 Semicolons and conjunctive adverbs
 A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb
 Independent clause (Main clause)
 Can stand alone as a sentence
 Can be joined to another clause
 Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder.
 Dependent clause (Subordinate clause)
 Cannot stand alone as a sentence
 Must be joined to an independent clause
 Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers.
 A dependent clause can be joined to an independent clause to make a sentence
 Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder because he wanted to make his own firecrackers.
 Or
 Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers, Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder.

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 Fragments look like sentences but are missing a subject or a verb, or they are put together incorrectly.
 Subjects or verbs can be added
 Fragments can be joined together
 All of the following are correct
 With his disposable lighter in his hand, he told everyone to get out of the way. Then he lit the fuse.
 Pulling out his disposable lighter, Fred told everyone to get out of the way before he lit the fuse.
 He pulled out his disposable lighter. Fred told everyone to get out of the way and then he lit the fuse.

 He didn’t throw the firecracker, he placed it between his legs, he wanted to put the lighter away first.
 Join the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction
 And, or, but, so, yet
 He wanted to put the lighter away first, so Fred placed the firecracker between his legs, and he didn’t throw it.
 Join the clauses with a subordinating conjunction
 Because, although, if, when, since, after
 Because the fuse burned too quickly before he could throw it, the explosive blew up between his legs.

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 Make the clauses into separate sentences
X
Fred fell down screaming when the smoke cleared we all expected to see a bloody mess.
 Fred fell down screaming. The smoke cleared. We all expected to see a bloody mess.
 Fred fell down screaming. When the smoke cleared, we all expected to see a bloody mess.
 Join two independent clauses with a semicolon (;)if they are closely related.

You may include a conjunctive adverb along with the semicolon:
 however, for example, therefore, moreover, indeed, consequently
X
Fred hadn ’ t taped the tube properly and most of the force was released out the ends of the tube the explosion did direct some pressure against his groin.
 Fred hadn ’ t taped the tube well and most of the force was released out the ends of the tube; however, the explosion did direct some pressure against his groin.

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
Fred managed to make it home and change his clothes, and he told his parents he fell off his bicycle, he avoided punishment for playing with explosives.

Fred managed to make it home and change his clothes. He told his parents he fell off his bicycle, thus avoiding punishment for playing with explosives.
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Fred managed to make it home. He changed his clothes and told his parents that he fell off his bicycle. He avoided punishment for playing with explosives.
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I left town shortly after. Didn’t see him again for five years.
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I left town shortly after and didn’t see him again for five years.
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Took a trip home last summer. I ran into Fred after my long absence he is unable to have children. Didn’t ask if he still plays with firecrackers.
 During a trip home last summer, I ran into Fred after a long absence. He is unable to have children. I didn’t ask if he still plays with firecrackers.
 After a long absence, I took a trip home last summer. I ran into Fred, who is unable to have children. I didn’t ask if he still plays with firecrackers.
 You can get further practise by clicking the button below or by following the link to the interactive exercise
 http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/leshanson/Hot_Potato/Sentence_Structur e_6.htm